The Jam Factory facts for kids
The Jam Factory is a popular shopping and entertainment center located in Chapel Street, South Yarra. This area is a lively suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Today, the Jam Factory is owned by a company called Newmark Capital Limited. It is also the main office for Village Roadshow, a big entertainment company.
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A Sweet History: From Jam to Fun!
The building that is now the Jam Factory has a long and interesting past. It first started as the Victorian Brewery way back in 1858. This was a place where drinks were made.
From Brewery to Jam Factory
The brewery closed down in 1876. That same year, two people named Robert Wright and Robert Payne bought the building. They started a new business called the Victoria Preserving Company. They made delicious preserved foods.
By 1880, their company was known as the Red Cross Preserving Company. It was a very important business for the area. During the fruit season, it employed about 230 people! This made it the biggest employer in Prahran at the time.
Later, in 1895, a person named Mr. William Peacock bought the building. He turned it into the 'OK' Jam Co. Then, he sold it to Henry Jones, who owned the famous Henry Jones IXL brand. Jam was made in this building for the Henry Jones IXL company until 1970.
Becoming a Modern Shopping Center
After many years of making jam, the building was changed into something new. It was redeveloped and opened on October 9, 1979. This new space became a modern shopping center. It was designed to offer the latest fashions and goods. In 1995, it was updated again and officially named "The Jam Factory."
Past Shops and New Stores
Over the years, the Jam Factory has been home to many well-known shops. In 1998, the very first Australian Borders bookstore opened its doors here. It was a huge bookstore where people could find many books and magazines. However, Borders closed down in 2011. Now, the space where Borders used to be is occupied by Topshop, a popular clothing store.
The Jam Factory was also chosen to bring back Virgin Megastores to Australia in 2002. Virgin Megastores were big shops that sold music, movies, and games. This store closed in 2010. Today, the space is home to the country's first Urban by Target store, which sells a variety of items.
Future Plans for The Jam Factory
There have been talks about making the Jam Factory even bigger and better. In 2008, there were plans for a huge redevelopment. These plans included building more shops, apartments, offices, and even a hotel. However, these big plans did not go ahead at that time. The Jam Factory continues to be a popular spot for shopping and entertainment in Melbourne.
